Nathan



May 24, 1960 H. NATHAN POWERED ROLL MATERIAL DISPENSER 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 23. 1957 604 Fig l7 Harry Na/han INVENTOR. Mk1.

May 24, 1960 H. NATHAN POWERED ROLL MATERIAL DISPENSER 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 23, 1957 Fig.3

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Harry Nathan IN V EN TOR.

May 24, 1960 H. NATHAN 2,937,554

POWERED ROLL MATERIAL DISPENSER Filed April 2:5, 1957 I e Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 8

Harry Nathan IN V EN TOR.

May 24, 1960 NATHAN POWERED ROLL MATERIAL DISPENSER 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 25, 195? Fig.//

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Harry Nat/ran INVENTOR.

Q BY whim May 24, 1960 H. NATHAN Filed April 23, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet s 532 Fig /4 E] G 330 Rotary Solenoid/ Memory I Reset 284 282 Wafer/ Reset Reset Rotary 5/14" Solenoid 6 340 0 & I u 268 Rotary Solenoid? I 9 0 I f L% 8 /Memory Water? 4 I 2 Recycle Relay 7 yc/e cant Memory Slider? w 3 5 Memory Memory Water 3 Reset Rotary Solenoid 8 Hundreds advance Slider Rotary Solenoid Reset Water 3 Reset Slider! Reset Slider 2 Reset Water 2 Hundreds Advance kReset zero Contact '55; \o y I i 0 Reset Rotary Solenoid 7 T 244 3 Reset Zero Contact Harry Nathan I INVENTOR.

BY MM 3% May 24, 1960 H. NATHAN 2,937,554

POWERED ROLL MATERIAL DISPENSER Filed April 23, '1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Fig. /4A

9 Units Opera/e Relay 2 OPerare Relay Opera/e Bar/an Hundreds 6 Key Holding Sale/mid Harry Nathan mmvroa.

BY m s% discharge openings in the base of the machine.

United States Patent 2,937,554 POWERED ROLL MATERIAL DISPENSER Harry Nathan, 2127 SW. 16th Terrace, Miami, Fla.

Filed Apr. 23, 1957, Ser. No. 654,511

20 Claims. (Cl. 83-203) This invention relates to a dispenser for rolled material such as premium stamps.

An object of thepresent invention is to provide a machine which greatly facilitates the dispensing of stamps, coupons or other similar items which are ordinarily stored and handled in roll form. There has been a great increase in the demand for premium stamps which are earned with each purchase at many retail outlets. In retail stores which are accustomed to doing a high volume business, the clerks time expended in counting and handling such stamps, either in roll or sheet form, has proved to be a merchandising hardship. cases the flow of customer trafiic is so impeded that the commercializing value of such stamps has been subject to question.

My invention enables the clerk, salesman, etc., to dispense any number of such stamps from one to nine hundred and ninety nine by the mere/depression of from one to three buttons. Manual counting is completely eliminated, and a single handling, that is picking up the correct number of stamps that have been dispensed and handing to the customer, is all that is required. Should this prove to be burdensome, it is within the contemplation of my invention to have the stamps discharged directly to the customer with the keyboard of my machine under the control of the clerk, salesman or other ,person handling the sale.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide :a compact machine for dispensing a selected number of stamps or other discrete items from a roll, the machine having a novel mechanical mechanism for handling, .counting and delivering the stamps and also having a novel electrical circuit together with circuit components which are integrally associated with some of the dispensing mechanisms. My machine is made of a base and a cover hinged to the base. The rolled material, as the stamps under discussion, are carried .by spindles which are supported by the base of the machine. The

ends of the rolls are fed through anovel guide and control mechanism prior to being discharged through There .are means for tensioning the rolled material and also for assuring that it is guided in a true course before presentation to cutting stations in which there are guillotine type cutters which sever the rolled material at places Iin exact accord with the programming of the machine. Due to this guide mechanism, there are mechanical assurances that the stamps will always be presented to the .cutting station in such relationship to the cutters that .the stamps will be severed at the lines of cleavage and not across any of the stamps.

The cover of my machine carries the indexing stamp tdriving wheels to coact with the guide mechanism for the stamps and propel the stamps the proper distances.

"The electrical circuit including the circuit wiring and circuit components are carried by the cover of the ma- .chine so that .the keyboard is close to the circuit which it controls.

1 2,937,554 Patented May 24, 1960 The machine is capable of counting, severing and dispensing the stamps at a comparatively high rate and may be considered as having two sections, thefirst' section being capable of delivering from one to nine stamps from a single 'row roll of stamps while the second section is capable of delivering numbers of stamps programmed from a tens and hundreds column. Both sections are operable simultaneously so that, for example, if it is desired to dispense 325 stamps, the button 3 in the hundreds column would be depressed together with the button 2 in the tens column, and the button marked 5 in the units column. 320 stamps will, in response to triggering the machines operation, be delivered from the larger roll of stamps (containing ten rows) and at the same time five stamps will be delivered from the smaller, single row roll of stamps. Alternatively, either section one or section two may be used independently. For example, section one will be used when a person desires to dispense from one tonine stamps. A larger, even number, for example 100 will be dispensed by utilizing section two only.

In some Other objects and features of importance will become apparent in following the description of the illustrated form of the invention.

In the drawings;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a machine which is constructed in accordance with the invention, showing the same mounted on a table having a stamp receiving Figure 2 is a perspective view of the machine showing the cover open and the rolls of material to be dispensed separated from the base of the machine;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the machine in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view.

taken on the line 44 of Figure 3 showing a suggested spindle and lock for the two rolls of stamps;

Figure 5 is a transverse fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3 and showing a part of the stamp guide to assure exact and proper handling of the strips of stamps that are extracted from the rolls;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the guide in Figure 5 showing the smaller of the two guide rollers in the open position;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 3 and illustrating principally the pin feed for the stamps;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the means to align new rolls of stamps properly with the cutters so as to prevent the cutters from severing stamps at any position other than the'proper lines of cleavage for the stamps, and to align the perforations in the new rolls of stamps with the pins on the pin feed wheels which engage the stamps as the cover is closed;

Figure 9 is a side View of the structure in Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a stamp guide platform over which the stamps are drawn as they are being the cutter in the rest position fully clearing the platform of Figure 10;

Figure 14 is a part of the electrical circuit shown by' schematic representation; Figure 14a is the remainder of the schematically ili lustrated electrical circuit of my machine, Figures 14 and 14:: being adapted to connect at the mating side edges thereof to form the complete circuit;

Figure 15 is a fragmentary perspective view of a sample of stamps from one of the rolls;

Figure 16 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modification of the means to propel the stamps through the exit slots of the machine;

Figure 17 is a sectional view of the modification of Figure 16 and taken on the line 17-17 of Figure 16.

In the accompanying drawings there is a machine 10 which is constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention. The machine has a base 12 and a cover 14 connected to the base by means of a piano hinge 16 or by some other type of conventional hinge. A key controlled lock 18 is used to hold the cover 14 in a locked condition with respect to the base 12. The base is adapted to be supported on any surface convenient and peculiar to the business with which the machine is used. As an alternative 21 special support panel of a shape and size to accommodate the base 12 may be used. In such case it is suggested that a tray 22 be formed in the support 20. Stamps 24 and/or 26 are adapted to be accepted by tray 22, these stamps having been dispensed from rolls 28 and 30 (Fig. 4). Roll 28 is composed of one row of stamps mounted on spool 32 that fits on spindle 34. Although the individual stamps may have perforations as cleavage lines, this is not wholly necessary. However, for drive purposes there are two rows of perforations 36 and 38 along the edges of the stamps. The roll 30 of stamps is composed of ten rows that are on spool 40, the latter fitting on spindle 42. Outer rows of perforations are on the roll 30 by which to drive the stamps. Stamp discharge slots 44 and 46 are formed in the base 12 and form conduits through which the stamps 24 and 26 are adapted to pass.

Stands 48 and 50 are bolted or otherwise attached to the bottom of base 12. Stand 48 has a hub 51 with a pair of longitudinal slots 52 and 53 formed in the side wall thereof through which pin 54 in spindle 34 is adapted to be pushed when loading or unloading the roll 28 from the stands. There are notches in the stand 48 adjacent to hub 51 in which pin 54 is adapted to seat. Sleeve 55 is passed through a hole 56 in stand 50 and forms a bushing through which spindle 34 is passed. The spindle has a spring 57 seating on sleeve 55 and a handle 58 carried by spindle 34. Accordingly the spring 57 applies a yielding force in a direction tending to pull the spindle 34 from stands 48 and 50 and this pulling force firmly seats pin 54 into the notches after they have been snapped in place. To install roll 28 in the machine, it is located between the stands and the spindle 34 pushed through the hole in spool 32 of roll 28. Pin 54 is passed through the passageways 52 and 53 and when the pin reaches the outside surface of stand 48, the spindle 34v is rotated 90 degrees and released allowing the pin 54 to snap into the notches which accommodate it.

Roll 30 on its spool 40 is mounted in a similar manner. There are stands 60 and 62 that are attached to the bottom of base 12. These are in transverse alignment with the stands 48 and 50 and they accommodate spindle 42. Hub 63 on stand 60 has a pair of passages 64 and 65 through which pin 66 is adapted to pass and snap into notches 68 and 69 '(Fig. 2) that are spaced at approximately 90 degrees from the passages 64 and 65. Sleeve 70 passes through a hole 71 in stand 62 and functions as a bushing for spindle 42, just as sleeve 55 functions as a bushing for spindle 34. Spring 72 on spindle 42 and handle 73 also on spindle 42 find exact counterparts in spring 57 and handle 58.

Stamps 24 are fed from roll 28 and are held taut by a tightener or slack take-up 78. Stamps 26 use slack take-up which is made of a pair of arms 81 and 82 attached to spindle 83 at their inner ends, the latter being mounted for oscillation in apertures formed i platform and across the top surface of the stamps.

. '4 stands 60 and 62. Roller 84 at the outer ends of arms 81 and 82 has enlargements 85 and 86 at the ends which function as bumpers to prevent side slipping of stamps 26, with the major central surface of the roller bearing against the lower surface of stamps 26. Spring 88 is attached at one end to arm 82 and at its opposite end to stand 60. Spring 88 may be duplicated for arm 81 and the spring or springs function to apply a yielding force on the stamps 26 at all times. Slack take-up 78 is constructed in a very similar fashion and includes a pair of arms 90 and 91 coupled at their inner ends to a spindle 92. This spindle is mounted for oscillation in apertures in stands 50 and 48. Spring 93 is attached to arm 91 and to stand 50 and functions in the same manner as spring 88. Here too, spring 93 may be duplicated for arm 90. Roller 94 is mounted for rotation between the outer ends of arms 91 and 90 and has annular enlargements 95 and 96 at the ends thereof to function as stops and prevent the stamps 24 from slipping off the sides of the roller 94.

There are two platforms 100 and 102 respectively that are secured to the bottom of base 12 and near the front wall thereof. Platform 100 (Fig. 10) is made of an upper plate 104 having perpendicular walls 105 and 106 at its opposite ends from which mounting flanges 108 and 109 protrude. These flanges are formed with a number of holes by which to accommodate screws or like fasteners in anchoring the platform 100 to the bottom of base 12. Upstanding guide flanges 112 and 113 are attached to the longer edges of the generally rectangular plate 104 and function as stops to prevent the stamps from slipping sideways off the platform. Stamp retainer plate 116 is connected by hinge 118 to an edge of plate 104 and is adapted to swing over the An upstanding flange 120 on the opposite edge of plate 104 coacts with the resilient latch 122 carried by stamp retainer plate 116, to hold the stamp retainer plate fastened in place. There are a pair of holes 123 and 124 in panel 104 and through which aligning pins 125 and 126 are adapted to pass.

Platform 102 is constructed identical to platform 100 with the exception that it is narrower. It is of a size to accommodate the single row of stamps 24 while the platform 100 is of a size to accommodate the stamps 26, these being drawn from roll 30 containing ten rows. Accordingly, platform 102 has guide flanges 127 and 128 and stamp retainer plate 129. Guide roller is located in advance of the stamp retainer plate 129 but behind the pair of flanges 127 and 128. Guide roller 130 (Fig. 5) has annular stops 131 and 132 at the ends thereof and is mounted for rotation on spindle 133. The spindle is capable of swinging about pivot 134 which connects it to the stand 135, the latter being mounted on one side of platform 102 and attached to base 12. The opposite end of spindle 133 fits between yoke 136 of stand 138, this stand being attached to base 12 and located opposite stand 135. Spring clip 140 having a cam upper end 142 to facilitate opening and closing of the roller, fits between the sides of yoke 136 and is engageable with spindle 133 to hold the spindle in such position that its roller 130 is disposed on top of the stamps 24 as they move across the top surface of platform 102.

The annular stops or flanges 131 and 132 on roller 130 straddle platform 102.

Roller 148 is mounted over the platform 100 and is adapted to guide the stamps 26 as they are fed from roll 30. Roller 148 is mounted for rotation on spindle 150, the latter being carried by pivot pin 152 which is mounted between the sides of bifurcated stand 154. The stand, like the opposing stand 156, is secured to the bottom of base 12 and is in transverse alignment with stands 135 and 138. .Spring clip 158, similar to spring clip 140, is attached to stand 156 and is used to hold the spindle '15 in the generally horizontal position and within the sides of the; stand 156. The roller 148 has flanges 160 and 161 at its ends which straddle platform I and which prevent the stamps from slipping sideways off platform 100. Therefore they exercise a guiding function over the stamps while the stamps are being propelled'through the machine.

When the cover 14 is lifted from base 12 of the machine and the stamp rolls 28 and 30 applied, it is urgent that the stamps be properly related spatially to the cutters 170 and 171 for the stamps 24 and 26, respectively, and also that the perforations in the stamp rolls are aligned with the pins on the pin feed wheels which en-, gage the stamp rolls as the cover is closed. Therefore, aligning pins 125 and 126 passing through aligning holes 123 and 124, are used. The aligning pins are carried by a frame 173 made of a transverse bar 175 and side bars 176 and 177 attached to the ends of bar 175. Frame 173 is vertically movable from a depressed position which withdraws pins 125 and 126 from holes 123 and 124, to an elevated position (Fig, 8) where the pins 125 and 126 pass throughholes 123 and 124. The upward motion is obtained by springs 180 and 181 which seat on pillow blocks 182 and 1 83 and which seat on ears 185 and 186 that protrude laterally from sides 176 and 177 and that overlie the pillow blocks 182 and 183. Bar 175 coming to bear against the bottom.surface of platform 100 limits the upward movement of frame 173 in which position the aligning pins 125 and 126 pass through the aligning holes 123 and 124 and also through the drive perforations 36 and 38 in stamps 24. Aligning pins 125 and 126 are automatically withdrawn from the aligning holes in the stamps overlying these holes when cover 14 is closed on base 12. The structure for functioning in this way is hangers 190 and 191 that are carried by cover 14 and which support the pin drive wheels 192 and 193 on drive shaft 194, the pin' drive wheels 192 and 193 being held coupled together by a sleeve spacer 195. The spacing between hangers 190 and 191 and the ears 185 and 186 is precise to the extent that when the cover is closed, the hangers depress these ears enough to separate the aligning pins from the stamps. The movement of frame 173 is constrained in that it is mounted in ways 196 and 197 formed on pillow blocks 182 and 183. In addition to the bar 175 coming in contact with the bottom surface of platform 100, stops 198 and 199 carried by sides 176 and 177 limit the upward movement of the frame 173. I

Platform 102 has a pair of holes in it through which aligning pins 198 and 199 pass, these aligning pins being carried by frame 200 which corresponds to frame 173 in both construction and function. The frame is held in a normally elevated position by springs 202 and 204 which react on pillow blocks 205 and 206 that are fixed to the base 12 of the machine. Frame 200 is depressed against the opposition of springs 202 and 204 by hangers 209 and 210 that depend from cover 14 and that support the pin drive wheels 212 and 214 held apart by spacer 216. The pin drive wheels 214 and 212 are attached to shaft 218 and are rotated by this shaft.

Cutters 170 and 171 are mounted on the base 12 of the machine directly in front of the stamp discharge slots 44 and 46 respectively. Cutter 171 is made of a pair of standards 220 and 222 which are bolted or otherwise secured to the bottom of base 12. They have confronting ways 224 and 226 in which the ends of blade or knife 234 are vertically slidable. Wall 106 of platform 100 coacts with the movable cutter knife 234, functioning as a stationary cutter bar. Arms 238 and 240 are attached to standards 220 and 222. Springs 242 and 243 are attached to arms 238 and 240 and the top surface of knife 234. These springs are tension-compression springs and they hold the knife hanging above the edge of the platform. The springs function to propel the guillotine type cutter downwardly with ample force to bring the cutter below the normal rest position and sever the stamps 26 when the stamps are moved thereunder. I

Crank arm 244 is mounted for pivotal movement on the bracket supported pin 246 and has a pin 248 at one ex-, tremity passed through slot 250 in knife 234. The op-.

posite extremity of the crank 244 is in contact with'the' plunger 252 of solenoid 256. Cutter 171 functions in" direct alignment with discharge slot 44, when the knife 171 is in the elevated, cocked position (Fig. 11). The machine is further programmed so that when the correct number of stamps pass through slot 44, the solenoid256 is de-energized so that its plunger 252 can be spring retracted abruptlyallowing springs 242 and 243 to forcibly project the knife 234 downwardly to a positionfinomentary) considerably lower than that shown in Figure 13. The stationary cutter 106 coacts with the knife 234 to form a guillotine and thereby sever the stamps 26 so that they are capable of falling in tray 22. They can be customer recovered orhanded to the customer by the user of machine 10. r

Cutter 170 for stamps 24, is a small scale duplicate of cutter 171. It involves knife 264 which is loaded by springs 265 and 266 in a downward direction, but cocked by prank 268, the latter being mounted for oscillation about pin 270 which is carried by bracket 280. Solenoid 282 has its plunger 284 in alignment with an end of crank 268 in order to function in a manner identical to the functioning of the plunger 252 of solenoid 256. A wall 288 of platform 102 serves as a stationary cutter bar for operation with the movable knife 264. It is pointed out that instead of using the front vertical walls of the platforms 100 and 102 as stationary cutter bars,

separate pieces which are capable of being more easily sharpened, may be substituted.

The operation of the machine will be described with reference to the circuit of Figures 14 and 14a. The circuit components and parts are commercially available. There is no uniqueness in the specific pieces, components and partsof the electrical circuit, but they are operatively connected in a manner peculiar to a machine of my in vention.

As previously described the machine can be considered from one to nine hundred and ninety-nine.

Referring now to Figure 14a, assume that the operator presses button 3 in the units button column. The remainder of the circuit that is associated with the units buttons or keys 'is set (in the drawings) with the ex pectancy that button 3 will be pressed, meaning that the operator desires three stamps and only three stamps.

This. closes the key holding contact 301, thereby energizing the key holding solenoid 302. The held holding solenoid self seals through operate relay 1 and the two ,contacts 4 by holding the key down and maintaining'thekey holding contact. The closing of the key holding contact 301 also energizes the appropriate key contact on memory wafer. 1. For clarity, only one key1(3-on 'Fig. 14a) is shown wired to its particular contact 3 on. memory wafer 1 of Fig. 14) on the'mernory wafer, .but' there an identical connection between each key in the units column and its particular unit key contact on memory wafer 1, except for zero key or button in the units column. Also for clarity, onlyone key holding solenoid 302 is shown, there being a key holding solenoid and key holding contact associated with each button or key except for the zero button. Pressing the zero button will break the power supply line 310 from the D.C. power supply 312 and release any keys which may have been pressed in error. Memory wafer 1 constitutes a part of a rotary switch while operate relay 1, operate relay 2, holding solenoid 302 and the contacts for the buttons or keys in the units column are standard and commercially available items.

The operator then presses the operate button 320 (Fig. 14a), this button constituting a part of a gang switch which is normally held open by spring pressure.

The depressing of the operate button 320 initiates the automatic cycle of my machine. Operate button contacts 2 receive voltage from memory slider 1 which is operable on memory wafer 1, closing operate relay contacts 1 and 3 and opening operate relay 1 contacts designated at 2 and 4 (Fig. 14a). Operate button contacts 3 maintain a ground return on the key holding solenoid 302 while operate relay 1 contacts 4 break and contact 3 makes, thereby preventing premature return of the key (3" in units column) that has been depressed. The key holding solenoids 302 and all others like it in the units column ground return now passes through operate relay 1 (contacts 3 thereof).

Operate relay 1 contacts 1 self seals the operate relay with voltage supplied by memory slider 1 by bypassing the operate button contact 2. The operate button may now be released. The operate relay 1 closes almost instantaneously and there is no danger of premature release of the operate button by the operator.

Conversely, the operator may continue to hold down the operate button if he so desires, without effecting the machines automatic action. Operate relay 1 contact 1 also energizes the paper cutting solenoid 282 in order to cock the knife blade 264 in the manner previously described.

Relay 1, contact 1 thereof, also energizes rotary solenoid 1 mechanically designated at 330. The rotary solenoid is of the type which is actuated in steps, indexing memory wafer 1. As shown in Figure 14 the rotary solenoid has self-stepping breaker points 332 operatively wired with the solenoid. Therefore as the rotary solenoid begins to step, it advances the notch in memory wafer 1 along the units key contacts. This solenoid 330 advances in discrete steps, each step advancing the notch in wafer 1 one position (of which there are ten positions) and at the same time dispensing one stamp per step through an appropriate drive connection or by being directly mechanically coupled (Fig. 7) with the pin feed wheels 212 and 214. At the same time a subtractive counter having counting wheels 331 visible through a window in cover 14, keeps a running count of the number of stamps that remain in the machine. The counter is mechanically linked for operation by rotary solenoid 330 or a part which is driven in proportional to the actuation of the rotary solenoid.

When the notch reaches the unit key contact that has been previously energized by the pressing of a key (key 3 in the units column of Fig. 14a), the voltage from this unit key contact is interrupted by the presence of the notch and the memory slider 1 is de-energized. At this point the number of stamps dispensed is equal to the key number originally pressed (3). De-energizing memory slider 1 causes the operate relay 1 to open, breaking operate relay 1 contacts 1 and 3 and closing operate relay 1 contacts 2 and 4. De-energizing memory slider 1 also de-energizes rotary solenoid 1 thereby causing the feed of stamps to be ceased. De-energizing slider 1 also releases the paper cutting solenoid 282 causing the knife blade 264 to shear oif the stamps that have been fed. During the time that operate relay 1 contacts-3 are open, and before operate relay 1 contacts 4 close (that is while operate relay 1 is in transit to open posh tion), the key holding solenoid 302 ground circuit is broken and the key is released to its original position.

Rotary solenoid 1 mechanically designated at 330 is mechanically linked to reset wafer 1 and rotary solenoid 6 mechanically designated at 340. The notch in reset water 1 is moved away from the reset zero contact 344 inasmuch as there is this mechanical connection. When operate relay 1, contact 2, closes, voltage is applied to the reset wafer 1. This causes the reset slider 1 which is operable over reset wafer 1, to apply voltage to rotary solenoid 6. At once, rotary solenoid 6 begins to step in a direction opposite to that of rotary solenoid 1, thereby driving both reset water 1 and memory water 1 back toward the zero position. During this return, the stamp drive is disengaged mechanically, as by a one-way clutch interposed in the mechanical linkage. When the notch in reset water 1 reaches the reset zero contact 344, reset slider 1 is de-energized and rotary solenoid 6 stops. The machine is now clear and in its original position. It is capable of further operation independent of that described in connection with the dispensing of three stamps. Considering now the operation of section two, it is to be remembered that the purpose of section two is to dispense from ten to nine hundred and ninety stamps. First, consider the operation involving the dispensing of ten to ninety stamps inasmuch as it is identical to the operation followed when dispensing one to nine stamps except for the following differences:

The keys or buttons pushed are in the tens column (Fig. 14a). Here again, each key has a key holding solenoid 400 and a key holding contact 402 although they all are not shown on the drawing. The key holding contact now energizes memory wafer 2 through the particular tens key contact corresponding to the button pushed. Again, for clarity, the wires from the key to the tens key contacts have not been shown except for the one example, key 4. When the operate button 320 is depressed, operate relay 2 is energized by the operate button contacts indicated at 1. Paper cutting solenoid 256 is energized by operate relay 2, contact 1 thereof. 'Rotary solenoid 2 performs the same operations as those explained previously for rotary solenoid 1 except that each time the solenoid advances one step, a roll of stamps 26 (ten stamps wide) is dispensed. The machine then follows the procedure described previously, until the key board clears. It will be observed that rotary solenoid 1 and reset rotary solenoid 6 together with the wafers and sliders, find a precise counterpart for the tens column of keys with corresponding parts numerically indicated by the numeral 2 instead of the numeral 1.

In dispensing one hundred to nine hundred and ninety stamps, the operation of section two of the machine involves the following: the operator pushes a key in the tens row and a key in the hundreds row or column. This closes the key contacts and energizes the key holding solenoids which are operatively related to the keys which are depressed. These solenoids self-seal with a ground return to operate relays 1 and 2 as shown in Figures 14 and 14a as contacts 4, by holding down the keys and maintaining the key holding contacts. Again. it is observed that each key in the hundreds column (except the zero key) has associated with it a key holding solenoid and a key holding contact. In addition. each key in the hundreds column has an extra contact as at 502 and 503, known as the recycle relay return contact to be described more in detail subsequently.

The closing of the key holding contact in the tens row energizes its particular tens key contact on memory water 2. Here again, it is mentioned that although it is not shown, each key holding contact connects to its particular tens key contact on memory wafer 2 (including spears;

"teis' key contact 9) except for the zero key The closing of the key holding contact in the hundreds row energizes its particular hundreds key contact on memory wafer 3. The wires from each hundreds row key holding contact are not shown, only one example being given and all others being identical. Also the closing of the recycle relay return contact grounds the return line of the recycle relay. The recycle relay 508 (Fig. 14) return contacts are all wired in parallel so that the closing of any one will ground the recycle relay return line.

The operator now pushes the operate .button 320 and initiates the automatic cycle. Operate button contact 1 receives voltage from the slider of memory wafer 2 and energizes operate relay 2, closing operate relay 2 contacts 1 and contacts 3, and opening contacts 2 and contacts 4 of this operate relay. Operate button contact 3 maintains a ground return on the key holding solenoid while operate relay 2 contacts 4 break and contact 3 closes as mentioned under the operation of section one (units buttons). Operate relay 2, contacts 1, self-seal the operate relay with voltage supplied by the slider on memory water 2, by bypassing the operate button contacts 1.

Operate relay 2, contacts 1, also energizes paper cutting solenoid 256. This cocks the knife blade 234 by actuating the bell crank 244. Operate relay 2, contacts 1, also energize rotary solenoid 2. This solenoid begins to step in conjunction with its self-stepping breaker points, advancing the notch in' memory wafer 2 along the tens keys contacts which are numerically designated and indi cated by arrows in Figure 14. Each step of this solenoid advances the notch one position and at the same time dispenses one row of stamps 26 (ten stamps being in each row), by mechanically operating the pin dispensing wheels 192 and 193 (Fig. 7).

The hundreds key that has been depressed energizes the corresponding hundreds key contact and consequently, memory slider 3 which is operable on memory wafer 3. This voltage is applied to memory water 2 through the tens key contact 9. Thus, when the notch in memory wafer 2 begins to rotate, memory slider 2 will remain energized regardless of the key pressed in the tens row until the notch arrives at the tendsrkey contact 9.

The hundreds advance water 530 is mechanically linked to and driven by rotary solenoid 2 and memory wafer 2 in such manner that when the notch in memory wafer 2 reaches the tens key contact 9 the tab 531 on the hundreds advance wafer closes with the recycle contact 532. This applies energizing voltage from memory slider 3 to rotary solenoid 3 which then advances one step. Note that rotary solenoid 3 does not advance continuously because of the lack of the self-stepping breaker points. No such points are shown in connection with rotary solenoid 3, although such breaker points are shown in conjunction with each of the other rotary solenoids in Figure 14. This same energizing voltage is applied to the recycle relay 508 which closes and applies energizing voltage to tens key contact zero. This coim pletes one cycle, rotary solenoid 2 having stepped ten times and dispensed one hundred stamps. This cycle continues, with the notch in memorywafer 3 advancing one position for each cycle (or for one hundred stamps dispensed) until the notch in memory wafer 3 reaches the particular hundreds key contact that has been energized by the pressed hundreds row key.

When this occurs, memory wafer 2 will have just reached tens key'contact position zero. The slot in memory wafer 3 causes memory slider 3 to be de-energiz ed and removes the voltage from the tens key contacts 9. Rotary solenoid 2 continues to advance until the notch in memory wafer 2 reaches the tens key contact energized by the tens row: key that has been pressed. At this point memory slider 2 is de-energized and the number, of stamps dispensed is, equal to the number of the keys that are pressed.

iDe energizing memory slider 2 causes operate relay 'to open, breaking operate relay 2 contacts 1 and 3,'and

closing operatefrelay 2 contacts 2 and 4. De-energizing memory slider 2 also de-energizes rotary solenoid 2 and stamp, feeding stops. De-energizing the slider also releases paper cutting solenoid 256 causing the knife blade 234 to shear oh the stamps that have been fed; During the time that operate relay 2 is in transit, the key holding solenoid ground return circuit is broken as mentioned in connection with the description of section one of the machine, and the keys released to their original positions. Operate relay 2 contacts 2 then energize the reset zero contacts and applies voltage to reset rotary solenoid 7 and reset rotary solenoid 8. These rotary solenoids 7 and 8 return until their respective reset wafer notches line up with their respective reset zero contacts. Their respective reset sliders are then de-energized and rotary solenoids 7 and 8 stop. The machine is now cleared and inits original position. If keys in all three rows are pressed, the two sections of the machine operate simultaneously in the manner previously described.

A machine constructed'in accordance'with the illustrated and described machine 10, is capable of exceedingly rapid delivery of stamps, coupons, tickets, etc. in any selected quantity from one to'nine hundred and ninetynine. Precautions have been taken to assure that the stamps are cut precisely at the correct lines of separation between them without the necessity of having perforations between stamps, although perforations (Fig. 15) may be used.

Many modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example attention is directed to Figs. 16 and 17. A modified means to propel the stamps are shown. These modified means consist of two elastic bands 600 and 602. They may be made of rubber, plastic, steel or any other material possessing like flexibility characteristics. Pins 604 protrude from the bands 600 and 602 and are engaged in the perforations 606 and 608 along the edges of the stamps 610 to propel the stamps. The pin feed wheels 612 and 6 14 correspond to the pin feed wheels 192 and 193, but instead ofhaving the pins applied to the peripheries thereof, the pins are carried by the bands 602 and 600 which are entrained around the pin feed wheels. A second set of pin feed wheels 616 and 618 have bands 600 and 602 entrained around them. Shafts 620 and 622, respectively, connect the pairs of wheels for uniformity in drive,

and this shaft is adapted to be rotated, as by electric motors, rotary solenoids or the like. Platform 628 is altered to the extent of having longitudinal troughs 630 and 632 within which to accommodate the pins 604. The troughs 630 and 632 take the place'of the corresponding holes .123 and 124 in platform 100.

. Other modifications and changes may be made herein without departing from the scope of the following claims. 1 What is claimed as new is as follows: 1 ,1. A dispensing machine for stamps wherein the stamps are maintained in two rolls, a first of said rolls having single-stamps, the second of said rolls being made of a plurality ofconnected rows which have ten stamps across each row, a base, means carried-by said base for supporting said rolls for rotation, cutters for said stamps and carriedby said-base, feeding means engageable with the stamps to extract the stamps from said rolls and 'feed thestamps to said cutters, key controlled means for ac tu'ating said feeding means to dispense a preselected number, of stamps from either or both of said rolls, said key controlled means including a group of units buttons, a

group of'tens buttons and .a group of hundreds buttons,

buttons in ordertgjenergize saidmotor means, memory switches'connectedwith sa'id'mot'or means which monitor 11 the extent of travel of said motor means in correspondence with the particular button or buttons that are actuated, mechanical stamp feed structure driven by and operatively connected with said motor means.

2. A dispensing machine for stamps wherein the stamps are maintained in two rolls, a first of said rolls having single stamps, the second of said rolls being made of a plurality of connected rows which have ten stamps across each row, a base, means carried by said base for supporting said rolls for rotation, cutters for said stamps and carried by said base, feeding means engageable with the stamps to extract the stamps from said rolls and feed the stamps to said cutters, key controlled means for actuating said feeding means to dispense a preselected number of stamps from either or both of said rolls, said key controlled means including a group of units buttons,

a group of tens buttons and a group of hundreds buttons, means for temporarily holding said buttons in the depressed condition after they are manually selected and depressed, electrically operated motor means, operating relays interposed between said motor means and said buttons in order to energize said motor means, memory switches connected with said motor means which monitor the extent of travel of said motor means in correspondence with the particular button or buttons that are actuated, mechanical stamp feed structure driven by and opeartively connected with said motor means, reset motor means operatively connected with the first mentioned motor means and said memory switch, electrical circuit connections between said reset motor means and said relays and said memory switches for automatically actuating said reset motor means.

3. A dispensing machine for stamps wherein the stamps are maintained in two rolls, a first of said rolls having single stamps, the second of said rolls being made of a plurality of connected rows which have ten stamps across each row, a base, means carried by said base for supporting said rolls for rotation, cutters for said stamps and carried by said base, feeding means engageable with the stamps to extract the stamps from said rolls and feed the stamps to said cutters, key controlled means for actuating said feeding means to dispense a preselected number of stamps from either or both of said rolls, said key controlled means including a group of units buttons, a group of tens buttons and a group of hundreds buttons, means for temporarily holding said buttons in the depressed condition after they are manually selected and depressed, electrically operated motor means, operating relays interposed between said motor means and said buttons in order to energize said motor means, memory switches connected with said motor means which monitor the extent of travel of said motor means in correspondence with the particular button or buttons that are actuated, mechanical stamp feed structure driven by and operatively connected with said motor means, reset motor means operatively connected with the first mentioned motor means and said memory switch, electrical circuit connections between said reset motor means and said relays and said memory switches for automatically actuating said reset motor means, an operate switch having an operate button, means connecting for electrical conductivity, said operate switch with said relays and said motor means for initiating operation of said motor means.

4. The machine of claim 2 wherein said motor means and said feed structure for the stamps. are arranged in super position to said supporting means for the firstand second rolls, a cover to which said motor means and structure are attached so that when said cover is brought to a closed position over said rolls of stamps, the structure is operatively engaged withthe stamps.

5. In a dispenser for a roll of material, a base, a stand having a spindle on which said roll is mounted for rotation, a platform carried by said base and over which the material is adapted to be passed, aligning means carried by said base, said base-having a cover with means 12 secured tosaid cover and cooperable with said aligning means to withdraw said aligning means from contact with the material in response to closing the cover, a guide op.- eratively connected with said platform for preventing the material from side slipping, and severing means for the material carried by said base.

6. In a dispenser for a roll of material, a base, a stand having a spindle on which the roll is mounted for rotation, a platform carried by said base and over which the material is adapted to be passed, aligning means carried by said base, said base having a cover with means secured to said cover and co-operable with said aligning means to withdraw said aligning means from contact with the material in response to closing the cover, a guide operatively connected with said platform for preventing the material from side slipping, and severing means for the material carried by said base, and means carried by said cover and brought into operative engagement with said severing means when said cover is moved to a position in covering relationship to said base.

7. The machine of claim 6 wherein there is a tightener for said material, said tightener carried by said base and movable to a material tightening position against the material at a location between said stand and said platform.

8. In a severable material dispensing machine which has two rolls of material, one roll being made of a single row of discrete items and the other roll being made of ten rows of discrete items, a base, means for guiding the items of each roll, cutters carried by said base to sever the items from said roll material, feeding means for said roll material and including a first section that has an electric operator, operate relays, a group of units buttons, circuit wiring operatively connecting said operate relays, said units buttons and said electric operator, an operate switch wired to said relays and said units buttons for initiating the energization of said electric operator distances corresponding to the units button that is actuated, a memory device actuated by said electrical operator, a reset electrical operator mechanically connected to said memory device, said memory device including a movable wafer having a plurality of contacts normally connected thereto, each of said contacts operatively associated with one of said units buttons for applying an electrical potential to said wafer when said associated button is actuated, a notch in said wafer for sequentially disconnecting said wafer from each of said contacts, and means responsive to the attainment of the selected extent of actuation of said electric operator for energizing said electric reset operator and thereby return said memory device to the initial starting position.

9. The machine of claim 8 wherein there are electrical holding circuit parts operatively connected with each of said units keys and electrically connected with contacts of said operate relays in order to release said buttons upon actuation of said reset operator.

10. The machine of claim 8 wherein there is a group of tens buttons and a group of hundreds buttons, electrically operative means for actuating said feed means preselected amounts in response to the particular tens and hundreds buttons that are operated, and means response to the attainment of the predetermined travel of said electrically operative means for resetting said electrically operative means.

11. In a machine for dispensing discrete parts of rolled material, the combination of a base, means mounted on the base for supporting the rolled material, guide means operatively connected with said base to channel the rolled material in a predetermined direction, means for feeding the material, said feeding means comprising a rotary electric operator, a memory device operatively associated with said operator, means for programming said memory device and including keys adapted to be under the control of the operator and adapted to program said memory device in accordance with the length of material that is to be dispensed, said means for programming said memory device including a movable wafer having a plurality of contacts normally connected thereto, each of said contacts operatively associated with a key for applying an electrical potential to said wafer when said associated key is actuated, a notch in said wafer for sequentially disconnecting said wafer from each of said contacts, and electrically operated reset means for said memory device rendered operative after said electric operator has dispensed the preselected quantity of material.

12. The machine of claim 11 wherein there are means for severing the material, a solenoid arranged to actuate said severing means, and means wiring said solenoid for electrical energization with said electric operator, said severing means including a spring loaded knife, said solenoid being arranged to cock said knife and hold the knife against the bias of the spring so that upon de-energization of said solenoid and said material feeding means, the knife is spring displaced for severing the material.

13. In a machine for dispensing discrete parts of rolled material from two separate rolls, the combination of a base, stands carried by said base on which the two rolls are mounted, guides carried by said base for channelling the material from the separate rolls, means for feeding the material, said feeding means comprising a first section and a second section, said first section having an electric operator, a memory device, key controlled means for programming said memory device, said means for programming said memory device including a movable wafter having a plurality of contacts normally connected thereto, each of said contacts operatively associated with a key for applying an electrical potential to said wafer when said associated key is actuated, a notch in said wafer for sequentially disconnecting said wafer from each of said contacts, and means responsive to operation of said memory device to the programmed position for resetting said programming device, said second section including a second electric operator, a second programming device, a second group of buttons arranged to program said second programming device, and reset means operative in response to attainment of said second programming device to the programmed position, for resetting said second programming device.

14. In a machine for dispensing discrete parts of rolled material from two separate rolls, the combination of a base, stands carried by said base on which the two rolls are mounted, guides carried by said base for channelling the material from the separate rolls, means for feeding the material, said feeding means comprising a first section and a second section, said first section having an electric operator, a memory device, key controlled means for programming said memory device, and means responsive to operation of said memory device to the programmed position for resetting said programming device, said second section including a second electric operator, a second programming device, a second group of buttons arranged to program said second programming device, and reset means operative in response to attainment of said second programming device to the programmed position, for resetting said second programming device, an advance actuator which is operatively connected with the highest digit position of said second memory device, a third electric actuator, a third memory device adapted to be at least in part programmed by said advance actuator, and reset means for said third memory device.

15. The machine of claim 14 wherein said first and said second electric operators are actuated in step by step fashion.

16. The machine of claim 14 wherein there are means operatively connected with said advance operator and said second memory device for recycling said machine to place it in the starting position.

17. In a machine to dispense selected parts of rolled, severable material, the combination of a base, a roll material support carried by said base, means for delivering "14 selected lengths of roll material from said support and including a pin feed wheel which is adapted to engage the roll material, a cover over said base and on which 7 said pin feed wheel is supported, said cover being swingable to a closed position at which the pin feed wheel is engageable with the roll material, spring urged aligning means on said base engageable with roll material to align the same when the cover is open for subsequent contact with said pin feed wheel when the cover is closed and being depressed to an inoperative position when the cover is closed, a guide for said material and carried by said base, and means for severing the preselected length of material after passing through said guide.

18. In a machine to dispense selected parts of rolled,

severable material, the combination of a base, a roll material support carried by said base, means for delivering selected lengths of roll material from said support and including a pin feed wheel which is adapted to engage the roll material, a cover over said base and on which said pin feed wheel is supported, said cover being swingable to a closed position at which the pin feed wheel is engageable with the roll material, spring urged aligning means on said base engageable with roll material to align the same when the cover is open for subsequent contact with said pin feed wheel when the cover is closed and being depressed to an inoperative position when the cover is closed, a guide for said material and carried by said base, means for severing the preselected length of material after passing through said guide, said severing means including a knife, a spring against which said knife reacts, electrically operated means for moving said knife in a direction to store energy in said spring and to release said knife so that the spring returns said knife forcibly and severs the severable material.

19. The machine of claim 18, wherein said electrically operated means are carried by said cover, and a spring bias tightener for the material carried by'said base and located between said support and said guide.

20. In a machine to dispense selected parts of rolled, severable material, the combination of a base, a roll material support carried by said base, means for delivering selected lengths of roll material from said support and including a pin feed wheel which is adapted to engage the roll material, a cover over said base and on which said pin feed Wheel is supported, said cover being swingable to a closed position at which the pin feed wheel is engageable with the roll material, spring urged aligning means on said base engageable with roll material to align the same when the cover is open for subsequent contact with said pin feed wheel when the cover is closed and being depressed to an inoperative position when the cover is closed, a guide for said material and carried by said base, means for severing the preselected length of material after passing through said guide, said severing means including a knife, a spring against which said knife reacts, electrically operated means for moving said knife in a direction to store energy in said spring and to release said knife so that the spring returns said knife forcibly and severs the severable material, said guide comprising a platform having a generally fiat upper surface over which the material is adapted to pass, a clamp plate extending transversely across said platform and beneath which the material is passed, and an additional transverse member extending acnoss said platform and beneath which the severable material is passed.

I References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 308,705 Riddell et al Dec. 2, 1884 1,055,966 Coffman et al. Mar. 11, 1913 1,746,192 Doebeli Feb. 4, 1930 1,996,665 Walker Apr. 2, 1935 2,712,442 Hanson July 5, 1955 2,806,693 Seeley Sept. 17, 1957 

